Latest news with #e-waste
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
I want my faulty earbud fixed. Should it cost less than replacing the pair?
I have a pair of Beats earbuds I received as a Christmas gift three years ago. They have been replaced once for free by Apple when they developed a sound issue within the warranty period. Recently, one earbud stopped working. I went to an authorised Apple repairer and was told the price of fixing them was equivalent to buying a new pair of earbuds. This seems wasteful to me as I'd rather repair the broken earbud, and I'm wondering if there is any recourse as to a discounted repair fee to encourage device repairs rather than replacements. – Alana, Victoria Kat George says: Australia has a rapidly growing e-waste problem, so you're right to challenge tech's throwaway culture. Australians generated 511,000 tonnes of e-waste in 2019, and the Australian government projects that will grow by 30% by 2030. Firstly, I question whether you should be the one wearing the cost of a repair or a replacement. Your rights as a consumer extend beyond the warranty offered by a business, in line with the 'consumer guarantees' available under the Australian Consumer Law. The consumer guarantees cannot be replaced by product warranties – any warranties provided for a product are in addition to the consumer guarantees. The consumer guarantees require that products are of 'acceptable quality and durability'. This includes that the product should be 'durable enough to perform its intended function(s) for a reasonable amount of time'. In the case of Beats earbuds, a Google search suggests (anecdotally) that this could be anywhere between three and five years. Unless you've used the Beats in a way other than they were intended, for instance, as door stoppers, or if you've done something to damage them, the consumer guarantees apply. Importantly in your case, even though your Beats have already been replaced, the consumer guarantees apply to the replacement Beats the same way they would to the original product. This means you can expect that the replacement Beats, from the date of replacement, should be of acceptable quality and durability, which it seems they may not be. This entitles you to the full protection of the Australian Consumer Law for the replacement product, and that includes a replacement, a refund, or a repair. Rather than going to an authorised repairer, go directly to Apple. Call Apple's customer service, but also put your case to Apple in writing, including the details of your purchase and initial replacement. Let Apple know that it is responsible for the faulty product, and that you'd like a repair. Apple could offer to repair the product for you (at no cost to you) or reimburse the cost of the repair. Either way, this should be agreed with Apple in advance of you taking any more steps to facilitate the repair of the Beats yourself. If Apple doesn't help you with a repair, complain to ACCC or Consumer Affairs Victoria. One of these consumer watchdogs should be able to take on your case and communicate with Apple on your behalf to resolve the dispute. Your final recourse is to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). VCAT is an expensive and time consuming process, so it may not be worth it for the sake of an earbud, unless you are really set on standing on principle. Do you have an Australian consumer problem you'd like Kat's advice about? Fill out the form below to let us know.
Geeky Gadgets
9 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Turn a Broken Phone into a Home Server for Automation and More
Have you ever looked at an old, broken phone and thought, 'This is just e-waste now'? What if that seemingly useless device could be transformed into something surprisingly powerful—a functional home server? It may sound like a stretch, but with a bit of technical ingenuity, that cracked-screen Android or forgotten drawer-dweller can take on a second life, running lightweight applications like Home Assistant or even hosting a VPN. In a world where electronic waste is piling up at alarming rates, this approach offers a sustainable and creative way to repurpose technology that might otherwise be discarded. If you have a broken smartphone Hardware Haven guide you through the process of turning your old phone into a compact, low-power home server. Along the way, you'll discover how tools like Postmarket OS and Docker can unlock new possibilities for your device, and how simple hardware tweaks can overcome challenges like battery degradation. Whether you're a tech enthusiast eager to experiment or someone looking for a cost-effective way to dip into home automation, this project offers a unique blend of practicality and innovation. By the end, you might just see your old phone not as obsolete junk, but as a gateway to smarter, greener tech solutions. Repurpose Old Phones as Servers The Benefits of Repurposing an Old Phone Turning an old phone into a home server offers several advantages that make it an appealing option for tech enthusiasts: Energy Efficiency: Old Android phones are compact and consume minimal power, often as low as 1 watt when idle. This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional servers. Old Android phones are compact and consume minimal power, often as low as 1 watt when idle. This makes them an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional servers. Cost Savings: Repurposing a device you already own eliminates the need to purchase new hardware, reducing costs significantly. Repurposing a device you already own eliminates the need to purchase new hardware, reducing costs significantly. Versatility: These devices can handle a variety of tasks, such as managing smart home devices, hosting a VPN for secure remote access, or running lightweight web servers. By giving new purpose to an old device, you not only reduce electronic waste but also explore creative and sustainable tech solutions. Challenges to Anticipate While the concept of transforming a phone into a server is exciting, it comes with several challenges that require attention: Technical Knowledge: Setting up a phone as a server demands familiarity with Linux systems, Android partitioning, and flashing tools. Without this expertise, the process can be daunting. Setting up a phone as a server demands familiarity with Linux systems, Android partitioning, and flashing tools. Without this expertise, the process can be daunting. Software Compatibility: ARM-based devices, like most Android phones, have limited software support compared to x86 systems, which can restrict the range of applications you can run. ARM-based devices, like most Android phones, have limited software support compared to x86 systems, which can restrict the range of applications you can run. Hardware Limitations: Older phones may struggle with performance issues, especially when running multiple services simultaneously. Older phones may struggle with performance issues, especially when running multiple services simultaneously. Power Supply Challenges: Phone batteries are not designed for continuous operation. Over time, battery degradation can lead to safety risks, necessitating modifications to the power supply. Phone batteries are not designed for continuous operation. Over time, battery degradation can lead to safety risks, necessitating modifications to the power supply. Networking Complexity: Configuring Docker containers, setting up firewalls, and managing network protocols can be complex, particularly for those unfamiliar with networking concepts. These obstacles require patience, problem-solving skills, and a willingness to experiment to achieve a successful outcome. Transform a Broken Phone into A Home Server Watch this video on YouTube. Enhance your knowledge on home servers by exploring a selection of articles and guides on the subject. Tools and Software You'll Need To repurpose your phone into a home server, you'll need specific tools and software to replace its original operating system and configure it for server tasks. Key resources include: Postmarket OS: A lightweight Linux-based operating system designed for older devices, offering flexibility and customization for server use. A lightweight Linux-based operating system designed for older devices, offering flexibility and customization for server use. Docker: A containerization platform that allows you to efficiently run multiple services, such as Home Assistant, on limited hardware. A containerization platform that allows you to efficiently run multiple services, such as Home Assistant, on limited hardware. Fastboot and PM Bootstrap: Essential utilities for flashing custom images and building the software environment required for server functionality. These tools are critical for preparing your phone to handle the demands of a home server, making sure it operates efficiently and reliably. Hardware Modifications for Enhanced Performance To ensure your phone operates continuously and safely as a server, you'll need to address its hardware limitations. Key modifications include: Custom Power Supply: Removing the phone's battery and replacing it with a stable power source prevents battery degradation and reduces the risk of overheating during prolonged use. Removing the phone's battery and replacing it with a stable power source prevents battery degradation and reduces the risk of overheating during prolonged use. Improved Network Connectivity: Using an Ethernet adapter instead of relying on Wi-Fi can enhance reliability and speed, though compatibility with older devices may vary. These adjustments improve the phone's stability and make it better suited for the demands of server tasks. Networking and Configuration Essentials Proper networking and configuration are crucial for turning your phone into a functional server. Key steps include: Setting Up Docker: Configure Docker containers to run applications like Home Assistant. This involves managing container communication, resource allocation, and making sure efficient operation. Configure Docker containers to run applications like Home Assistant. This involves managing container communication, resource allocation, and making sure efficient operation. Firewall Configuration: Implement firewall rules to secure your server, protecting it from unauthorized access and potential vulnerabilities. A well-configured network ensures your server operates securely and efficiently, even in a home environment. Practical Applications and Limitations Once set up, your repurposed phone can serve as a reliable home server for various lightweight applications. Examples include: Home Automation: Use Home Assistant to control and monitor smart devices seamlessly. Use Home Assistant to control and monitor smart devices seamlessly. Secure Remote Access: Host a VPN server to enhance your network's security and enable remote access to your home systems. However, it's important to recognize the limitations of ARM-based devices. They lack the expandability, processing power, and I/O options of x86 systems, which may restrict their use for more demanding applications. Despite these constraints, they remain a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for lightweight server tasks. Media Credit: Hardware Haven Filed Under: Guides, Hardware Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
The Sun
2 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Online shopping giants Amazon and eBay to pay the price for electrical waste
AMAZON and eBay will have to fund a new crackdown on fly-tipped electrical goods, starting next week. The online shopping giants will be forced to cover the costs of cleaning up e-waste from our streets. 2 2 British firms like Currys and Argos already have to pick up the tab for recycling things like TVs and fridges. But now huge internet companies will also have to report all sales of electronic items. This will then be used to work out their bill. Mary Creagh, Circular Economy Minister, said: 'Online giants must pay their fair share for cleaning up e-waste their overseas traders sell to UK consumers. 'This Government will always back British business. "We are levelling the playing field and stopping the avalanche of single use tech filling our bins.'
Japan Times
29-07-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
In the Philippines, informal e-waste dismantling poses health risks
Dexter Barsigan has spent the past 13 years making a living with his bare hands and a pair of pliers, stripping scrapped laptops and air conditioners for metal he can sell to junk shops in the Philippines. But since his hands began aching and his vision started to blur three years ago, there have been days he can only watch his wife and nephew do the job for him. The 47-year-old father of three is a mambabaklas, the Filipino word for informal dismantlers who scavenge electronic waste for the nickel, aluminum and copper inside. "Dismantling helps us put food on the table. It provides the money to send my kids to school," Barsigan said while sitting along a kilometer-long stretch of Onyx Street, home to hundreds of fellow "e-waste" dismantlers. Their work frequently involves burning away rubber wire casings, releasing a toxic brew of chemicals including lead, mercury and cadmium into the air. Both the Philippine government and the Basel Convention, a global waste-management treaty signed by 191 countries, consider e-waste hazardous. "It poses serious threats to human health and the environment," said Irvin Cadavona, a hazardous waste management officer with the environment department, citing health risks ranging from cancer and neurological diseases to respiratory illnesses and birth defects. The World Health Organization said last year exposure to e-waste chemicals can lead to asthma and reduced lung function in children, while pregnant women are at higher risk for stillbirths and premature delivery. "It's very hard to recycle these (chemicals). When you dismantle (e-waste), you must intricately break it down. It can be very hazardous," said Gelo Apostol, an environmental health specialist from Ateneo de Manila University. Exposure to the substances can lead to anemia, kidney and thyroid diseases, and nerve damage, he said. The Philippines is among the top e-waste generators in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations' Global E-waste Monitor, accounting for 540 million kilograms in 2022. Dismantlers who work at the country's accredited facilities are required to follow stringent guidelines. But their informal counterparts lack the training, regulations and protective equipment needed to properly protect themselves. "I strongly believe that some Filipinos are getting sick because of the exposure to e-waste," Cadavona said. Burning rubber Barsigan, who doesn't wear a mask while working, prefers dismantling computer circuit boards with aluminum and copper because they fetch as much as 470 Philippine pesos ($8) per kilo. But circuit boards have especially high concentrations of toxic metals that can cause nerve damage when breathed in, Apostol said. While illegal, Onyx Street's e-waste dismantlers also routinely burn wires to extract copper, which is faster than peeling them by hand. Rosalie Sedantes strips parts from discarded electronic equipment in Manila on June 26. Her husband, Dexter Barsigan, has developed health issues after years of dismantling scavenged electronic waste. | AFP-JIJI Rosana Milan, physician-in-charge at Manila's Pedro Gil Health Center, said her clinic has diagnosed half of the 12,000 people living along the street with respiratory issues, most of them children. "It's very risky for the babies, the toddlers and even the school children ... they're sitting beside their father while the father is ... burning the rubber," Milan said. "Mostly they have pneumonia, upper and lower respiratory illness, even if they have vaccines." Dismantler Sammy Oligar said his one-year-old grandchild had been diagnosed with pneumonia that a doctor attributed to pollution caused by the burning. "The smoke would enter from our window and the child would inhale it," Oligar said, adding that many of his neighbors were dealing with lung illnesses. 'What are we waiting for?' Medicins du Monde (MdM), a French humanitarian organization providing gloves, masks and safety orientations for the dismantlers of Onyx Street, is calling for the recognition of informal e-waste workers. "Health is clearly not their first priority. Their priority is to have food on the table," said Eva Lecat, general coordinator of MdM. "If (their work) was legal and recognized and regulated, there would be ways to protect people and communities." Cadavona, the waste management officer, said the informal nature of the picker-junkshop relationship made it "very hard" to establish formal recognition for the community. Apostol, the faculty researcher, said an "evidence gap" created by the lack of studies specific to dismantlers might be contributing to a lack of urgency. "But remember, many of the chemicals found in e-waste already have extensive studies on their health effects," Apostol said. "What are we waiting for? To have nationwide data of people who died from e-waste before we take action?" Worried he will be unable to afford treatment, Barsigan said he has avoided doctors, instead putting ointment on his hands and taking a cheap, over-the-counter pain reliever. Once his hands feel a little better, he said, he will put them back to work. "If I stop dismantling, it's as if I have also given up the hope of a better life for my children."
Yahoo
29-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Food on table' outweighs health risks for Philippine e-waste dismantlers
Dexter Barsigan has spent the past 13 years making a living with his bare hands and a pair of pliers, stripping scrapped laptops and air conditioners for metal he can sell to junk shops in the Philippines. But since his hands began aching and his vision started to blur three years ago, there have been days he can only watch his wife and nephew do the job for him. The 47-year-old father of three is a "mambabaklas", the Filipino word for informal dismantlers who scavenge electronic waste for the nickel, aluminum and copper inside. "Dismantling helps us put food on the table. It provides the money to send my kids to school," Barsigan told AFP while sitting along a kilometre-long stretch of Onyx Street, home to hundreds of fellow "e-waste" dismantlers. Their work frequently involves burning away rubber wire casings, releasing a toxic brew of chemicals including lead, mercury and cadmium into the air. Both the Philippine government and the Basel Convention, a global waste management treaty signed by 191 countries, consider e-waste hazardous. "It poses serious threats to human health and the environment," said Irvin Cadavona, a hazardous waste management officer with the environment department, citing health risks ranging from cancer and neurological diseases to respiratory illnesses and birth defects. The World Health Organization said last year exposure to e-waste chemicals can lead to incidents of asthma and reduced lung function in children, while pregnant women are at higher risk for stillbirths and premature delivery. "It's very hard to recycle these (chemicals). When you dismantle (e-waste), you must intricately break it down. It can be very hazardous," Gelo Apostol, an environmental health specialist from Ateneo de Manila University, told AFP. Exposure to the substances can lead to anemia, kidney and thyroid diseases, and nerve damage, he said. The Philippines is among the top e-waste generators in Southeast Asia, according to the United Nations' Global E-waste Monitor, accounting for 540 million kilograms (about 600,000 tons) in 2022. Dismantlers who work at the country's accredited facilities are required to follow stringent guidelines. But their informal counterparts lack the training, regulations and protective equipment needed to properly protect themselves. "I strongly believe that some Filipinos are getting sick because of the exposure to e-waste," Cadavona said. - Burning rubber - Barsigan, who doesn't wear a mask while working, prefers dismantling computer circuit boards with aluminum and copper because they fetch as much as P470 ($8) per kilo. But circuit boards have especially high concentrations of toxic metals that can cause nerve damage when breathed in, Apostol said. While illegal, Onyx Street's e-waste dismantlers also routinely burn wires to extract copper, which is faster than peeling them by hand. Rosana Milan, physician-in-charge at Manila's Pedro Gil Health Center, said her clinic has diagnosed half of the 12,000 people living along the street with respiratory issues, most of them children. "It's very risky for the babies, the toddlers and even the school children… they're sitting beside their father while the father is... burning the rubber," Milan told AFP. "Mostly they have pneumonia, upper and lower respiratory illness, even if they have vaccines." Dismantler Sammy Oligar said his one-year-old grandchild had been diagnosed with pneumonia that a doctor attributed to pollution caused by the burning. "The smoke would enter from our window and the child would inhale it," Oligar told AFP, adding that many of his neighbors were dealing with lung illnesses. - 'What are we waiting for?' - Medicins du Monde (MdM), a French humanitarian organisation providing gloves, masks and safety orientations for the dismantlers of Onyx Street, is calling for the recognition of informal e-waste workers. "Health is clearly not their first priority. Their priority is to have food on the table," Eva Lecat, general coordinator of MdM, told AFP. "If (their work) was legal and recognised and regulated, there would be ways to protect people and communities." Cadavona, the waste management officer, said the informal nature of the picker-junkshop relationship made it "very hard" to establish formal recognition for the community. Apostol, the faculty researcher, said an "evidence gap" created by the lack of studies specific to dismantlers might be contributing to a lack of urgency. "But remember, many of the chemicals found in e-waste already have extensive studies on their health effects," Apostol said. "What are we waiting for? To have nationwide data of people who died from e-waste before we take action?" Worried he will be unable to afford treatment, Barsigan told AFP he has avoided doctors, instead putting ointment on his hands and taking a cheap, over-the-counter pain reliever. Once his hands feel a little better, he said, he will put them back to work. "If I stop dismantling, it's as if I have also given up the hope of a better life for my children." pam/cwl/dhw/fox Solve the daily Crossword
